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Insta Gjelet |
Insta Gjelet
Bruviknipa has two distinct couloirs down towards Ytre Bruvik. They are called Insta og Ytsta Gjelet (inner and outer couloirs). Daredevils run down Insta Gjelet on skis, but I wanted to take a closer look when the couloir was snow-free.
I followed a canyon from Ytre Bruvik, which forked - obviously to the two couloirs and I went to the right - towards Insta Gjelet. After following a creek up easy terrain, I ran into very "inconvenient" terrain. "Creek climbing" is a better word. The "creek" was actually a number of small waterfalls in sequence, and for every waterfall, I more and more disliked the idea of having to walk back this way.
The ice-axe was a "life-saver". Not only was it helpful to chop away rotten rock, but it was - more importantly - a necessary extension of my arm when I ran out of handholds. Where water was running, the rock seemed solid, but I would have needed a wet suit. Elsewhere, the rock was incredibly rotten and this project turned into the category "not fun!". I decided to turn around and hike Bruviknipa on a normal route.
A normal route
I went back to the creek junction, scrambled up from the canyon and traversed the forest until I ran into the "yellow" trail (marked with yellow plastic objects) from Ytre Bruvik to the Skaftå - Utegardsnipa ridge. Once on the ridge, I followed the ridge route (vague red paint) up to Bruviknipa. It was a very windy summit, and it started to rain just before I got back to the car.
I then spoke with Magnvald Hjelvik, which suggested I should try the ridge to the right of Insta Gjelet. The top of the distinct part of the ridge is called "Såto" and you continue directly up to the summit. Magnvald also pointed out a number of other "interesting" routes on the mountain, including a horizontal traverse of the couloirs. At least I will be back for the "Såto" route.
Insta Gjelet
Descent from the summit
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